Job 32:4-14

4 Elihu had waited to speak to Iyov because they were older than he;

5 however, when Elihu saw that these three had no answer, his anger flared up.

6 Elihu the son of Barakh'el the Buzi said: "I am young, and you are old, so I held back from telling you my opinion.

7 I said, 'Age should speak; an abundance of years should teach wisdom.'

8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath from Shaddai, that gives him understanding -

9 it isn't [only] the great who are wise or the aged who know how to judge.

10 Therefore, I say, listen to me; I too will express my opinion.

11 "Here, I waited for your words, I listened to your reasoning, as you were searching for what to say.

12 I paid attention to you, but none of you convicted Iyov or refuted his arguments.

13 So don't say, 'We found the wise course -Let God defeat him, not a human being.'

14 For he did not direct his words against me, and I won't answer him with your arguments.

Job 32:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 32

Job's three friends being silenced, and having no more to say in reply to him, Elihu, of whose descent some account is given, a bystander and hearer of the whole dispute between them, rises up as a moderator, and expresses some anger both against them and Job, Job 32:1-5; he makes an apology for engaging in this controversy, by reason of his youth, and they being advanced in years, Job 32:6,7; but since there is a spirit in man, that gives understanding to men of every age, and old men are not always wise, he desires they would hearken to him while he delivered his sentiments on the subject in debate, Job 32:8-10; and hopes to be heard patiently, since he had waited until they had said all they had to say, and had closely attended to it, and which fell short of convincing Job; and this he was obliged to say, lest they should be wise in their own conceit, and attribute that to men which belongs to God, Job 32:11-13; he proposes to take a new method with Job, different from theirs; and now they hearing all this from a young man, they were filled with amazement, and struck with silence; and after he had waited a while to observe whether they would say anything or not, he determined to take his turn, and show his opinion also, Job 32:14-17; and the rather because he was full of arguments, he was desirous to propose them, and was uneasy until he had brought them out; and which he was resolved to do with all impartiality and integrity, Job 32:18-22.